Paulo Novais / LUSA
Ana Abrunhosa, president of Coimbra City Council
Mayor of Cuiabá highlighted the presence of the Government, Army and Navy. “Coimbra only has one word to say: thank you very much”.
The president of Coimbra City Council admitted that the bursting of the dike that occurred on Wednesday, which would lead to the , was a possibility foreseen since Tuesday by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), with preventive work having been carried out.
Ana Abrunhosa admitted that there continues to be “the possibility of other ruptures” on the banks of the Mondego, especially given the adverse weather conditions that could still be felt in the following days.
“We will maintain this situation of prevention, we are going to keep these areas evacuated and, therefore, we are going to keep the people from those three homes in [pavilhão] Mário Mexia, with all comfort, with all tranquility and we will maintain the other areas of concentration and support for the population”, he said.
According to Ana Abrunhosa, a new press conference will be held on Saturday and, until then, “all protection and safeguarding measures for people and property” will be maintained, which began on Tuesday, in the late afternoon.
“We ask for your patience. We know it’s not easy, it’s been several weeks, but we hope that on Saturday we can give you good news. But we can’t make it easy. We don’t know if the dike will burst in other places”, he highlighted.
In the meantime, the president of the Chamber of Coimbra highlighted that did not miss the presence of the Government or resourceshighlighting that the Army and Navy (via the marines) searched for the municipality and arrived at the municipality, proactively – without a request from the municipality.
“I want to say just one thing: I am often asked if I missed the Government, if I felt the lack of resources. I want to say that, Both the Army and the Marines looked for us and came to us, without us asking“, announced the former minister.
“They are on the ground together with the firefighters, with the PSP, with the GNR and with our board presidents, naturally”.
“And therefore, Coimbra only has one word to say: thank you very much to everyone and we will continue to be present”, said Ana Abrunhosa, who also thanked APA and the Minister of the Environment for the work done in managing the Mondego basin throughout these critical days.
